VSR: Burnett Named Athlete of the Week

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Rachael Burnett of the women’s swimming team has been named the West Virginia University Student-Athlete of the Week for her performance last week.

Burnett, a junior from Springfield, Va., led WVU to a 161.5-138.5 victory over visitng Pitt on Senior Day last Saturday at the WVU Natatorium. Burnett finished the afternoon with four first-place finishes.

Burnett began the afternoon with a decisive win in the 1000 free (10:01.35), following by victories in the 200 free (1:52.42) and 500 free (4:57.32). Burnett closed the afternoon with a win as a member of the 400 free relay (3:30.87).

This Week in Women’s BasketballThe WVU women’s basketball team continues BIG EAST competition this week with a 7 p.m. game against Seton Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 10 and a 2 p.m. matchup at Providence on Saturday, Jan. 14.

Last Week in Women’s BasketballWest Virginia went 1-1 last week, falling at No. 2/2 Connecticut 79-60 before picking up a BIG EAST win against Villanova at home, 61-56 ... Asya Bussie led all players in a hard-fought battle at No. 2/2 Connecticut with 19 points, 17 coming in the second half ... behind Bussie, Christal Caldwell recorded 17 points and Brooke Hampton chipped in 10 ... Hampton used the momentum from that game to lead WVU in scoring in the win over Villanova as she hit 4-of-5 3-point attempts, totaling 18 points ... Bussie, Caldwell and Ayana Dunning all chipped in 10 points in the victory.

Notes & Quotes“We always concern ourselves with their defense because of how aggressive they are on defense. Since we are a motion team, we spend a lot of time trying to create motion against their defense. We do spend time obviously with their new players but for us, it is more about their defense. That is the strongest part of their game is their defense.”- Villanova coach Harry Perretta

This Week in Swimming & DivingBoth squads are idle.

Last Week in Swimming & DivingThe teams participated in Senior Day at the WVU Natatorium with a dual meet against Pitt ... the WVU women won for the first time in three years with a 161.5-138.5 win, while the men fell 175.5-124.5.

Notes and QuotesThe meet began with WVU sweeping both the men’s and women’s 200 medley relays ... Danielle Smith, Jenelle Zee, Julie Ogden and Rachael Gorrie won for the women, while Bryce Bohman, Jack Greenhalgh, Taylor Camp and Tim Squires took the win for the men ... Rachael Burnett led the women with victories in the 200 free (1:52.42), 500 free (4:57.32), 1000 free (10:01.35) and 400 free relay ... Mandie Nugent also had a good afternoon, sweeping both the 100 fly (56.78) and 200 fly (2:02.42) ... Camp led the men with victories in the 100 fly (49.60) and 200 fly (1:50.90), while Bohman took first in the 200 back (1:50.57) and second in the 100 back (50.74) and 100 fly (50.46).

“We had a really solid effort from everyone. It was a nice win for them and a good step forward for our program. This is certainly a great way to start as we move towards our BIG EAST Championships. Haily (Vande Poel) and Jenn (Rey) scoring on the boards as they did helped us put the meet away by the 100 fly. I was really proud of the ladies team and it’s always nice to beat Pitt.”- WVU coach Vic Riggs

This Week in Track & FieldThe Mountaineers travel to State College, Pa., to compete at the Nittany Lion Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 14 ... the meet begins at 9 a.m.

Last Week in Track & FieldWVU did not compete.

Notes and QuotesWest Virginia qualified four athletes for the BIG EAST Indoor Championships at the WVU Holiday Classic on Dec. 3, including throwers Terina Miller and Heather Adams, sprinter Stormy Nesbit and pole vaulter Katlyn Shelar ... four other athletes placed first in their respective events during the WVU Holiday Classic, including Lauren Moskal (mile), Alison Kimble (3,000-meter run), Sydney Cummings (high jump) and Meghan Mock (long jump) ... the Mountaineers look to achieve Top-20 finishes for a fifth consecutive year in both indoor and outdoor track ... returning All-Americans from last season include Chelsea Carrier-Eades, Kate Harrison, Sarah-Anne Brault, Meghan Mock, Katelyn Williams and Jessica O’Connell.

This Week in WrestlingThe Mountaineers will travel to East Lansing, Mich., for a dual meet against No. 21 Michigan State.

Last Week in WrestlingWVU was defeated 22-15 by Maryland in its first home dual meet of the season.

Notes and QuotesThe loss moved WVU’s dual meet record to 2-2 on the season ... as the Mountaineers prepare to square off against the Spartans, WVU has five wrestlers that are ranked in multiple wrestling publications ... junior Shane Young (125) is ranked as high as No. 20, redshirt sophomore Nathan Pennesi (133) sits at No. 19, redshirt junior Lance Bryson (174) is No. 17, redshirt senior Matt Ryan is No. 17 and redshirt senior Brandon Williamson is holding steady at No. 25 ... sophomore Michael Morales (141), who started every dual meet for WVU last season, made his return to the lineup on Friday night ... Morales defeated the Terrapins’ Frank Goodwin in an exciting 10-7 decision that saw the Brick, N.J., native earn a takedown and three near fall points late in the third period to seal the match ... Morales upped his career record to 19-10 with the win ... Pennesi currently holds the team lead with 18 wins this season.

This Week in GymnasticsThe Mountaineers continue their season-opening homestand and play host to East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) foe Rutgers on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum.

Last Week in GymnasticsThe Mountaineers (1-1, 1-0 EAGL) opened their 2012 season in record-setting fashion, scoring 195.1, the best season-opening team total in program history, in a home tri-meet against preseason-ranked No. 13 Penn State and EAGL opponent Maryland … the Nittany Lions won the meet with a 195.775 score, while the Terps scored 194.225 … the victory over UMD was the first career win for first-year coach Jason Butts … sophomore Hope Sloanhoffer finished second overall with a 39.3 score … senior Tina Maloney finished fourth (38.85) and accounted for the team’s only individual win, as she won floor outright with a career-best 9.875 score … WVU earned its only team win on floor with a 49.075 score … behind Maloney’s win, Sloanhoffer finished second on floor with a 9.85 score, while junior Alaska Richardson scored a career-best 9.825 and finished fifth … Sloanhoffer anchored the vault lineup with a second-place 9.875 score … she and junior Kaylyn Millick also paced the team on bars with 9.775 scores, career-best marks for both student-athletes … freshman Beth Deal paced WVU on beam and finished second overall with a 9.825 mark.

Notes and QuotesThe Mountaineers improved to 33-14-1 over Maryland and dropped to 6-36 against PSU … WVU previously scored 194.8 in its 2007 season opener … the Mountaineers’ final tally of 195.1 was just outside the program’s all-time top 50 team scores … WVU placed second on vault (48.825) and beam (48.6) and third on bars (48.6) … freshmen Dayah Haley and Lia Salzano shone in their Mountaineer debuts, scoring 9.775 on vault and finishing in a tie for sixth place … sophomore Amanda Carpenter also was strong in her WVU debut, earning a 9.8 score on beam and tying Sloanhoffer for third place … sophomore Bethany Yurko also made her Mountaineer debut and tallied 9.7 on vault … junior Chelsea Goldschrafe competed on bars for the first time collegiately and scored 9.675 … PSU’s Sharaya Musser finished first overall with a 39.5 showing … WVU is 50-0 all-time against Rutgers.

This Week in RifleThe No. 3-ranked West Virginia rifle team returns to the WVU Rifle Range and opens the second half of its 2011-12 season against Akron on Saturday, Jan. 14 … the match will start at 8 a.m. and play into the afternoon.

Last Week in RifleThe Mountaineers (6-0, 4-0 GARC) did not compete last week.

Notes and QuotesThe Mountaineers are 9-0 all-time against Akron … WVU last earned a 4671-4646 victory over Ole Miss on Nov. 12.